

Ecuadorian botanist Alinna Friere-Fierro makes notes during fieldwork in the surreal landscape of the El Angel Ecological Reserve (3,400 to 4,768 meters elevation).
Beside her is the spectacular Frailejon plant (Espeletia hartwegiana), a large velvety-leaved member of the Aster family. In dense clusters, the plants are described as the "giant rosette forest."